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Welcome to the April Newsletter!

Hasn't the weather been fantastic!?! We've had several trips already and they've all had near perfect weather. It probably won't last so enjoy it while you can. As for me, I'll soon be tromping around south Florida for a week of sightseeing and hopefully some swamp paddling. Anyone know what colors alligators don't like?

See you in the eddie,
~ the editor

Welcome New CCC Members!

A big welcome to the following new members:

David Wagner	Joseph Boland
Jack Hart	Bruce Hall
Robert Ivey

Soggy Sneakers, 4th Edition Published

The guide book that most Oregon paddlers own has been updated yet again: Soggy Sneakers, 4th Edition: A Guide to Oregon Rivers, published by The Mountaineers, contains lots of updates plus 35 new runs and a new quick-reference section. I found several copies at a local bookseller and in general liked what I saw. There's still not as many novice runs as I'd like to see but the layout is nicer and overall it feels like a bigger book. For those not ready to plunk down $18.95 for the new edition, the WKCC (the authors) has the new runs listed on their web site: http://www.wkcc.org/ (click on "New River Info").

Paddle Oregon 2004 Registration Open

If you missed it last year nows your chance to sign up for this year's float. Organized by the Willamette Riverkeepers as a fund and awareness raiser, Paddle Oregon is a week-long canoe adventure on the Willamette river. This year's event is September 7th - 11th and runs from Eugene, Oregon to Willamette Mission State Park just downriver of Salem. The cost is $535 which covers everything but your boat and camping gear. For more info see http://paddleoregon.org.

The Same River Twice at The Bijou 4/23

This 78 minute documentary film, featuring vintage 1970s Colorado river rafting footage inter-spliced with present-day reflections by select participants, will open at the Bijou Theater in Eugene April 23rd. The film played at the Sundance Film Festival and has gotten mostly good reviews. More info available at www.samerivertwice.com. The Bijou's address is 492 East 13th Avenue. Be forewarned: if naked hippies freak you out you might want to go see Starsky & Hutch instead...

Fern Ridge Reservoir Update

According to a January 29th press release, the Corps of Engineers has lifted the pool restriction for Fern Ridge reservoir, allowing it to fill in time for the 2004 recreation season. Those who've been out to the reservoir recently know that it's nearly full already. The release goes on to describe some of the tests conducted to access the condition of the earthen dam, the results of which concluded that the dam is structurally sound. The full press release can be read at the link below:
www.nwp.usace.army.mil/issues/fernridge/news.

SOLV Spring Beach Cleanup March 27th

This announcement is a bit late but not too late... The annual SOLV Spring Oregon beach cleanup is March 27, 10am - 1pm at most any beach near you. Bags are provided. Much more infomation available at www.solv.org including a map of locations and contact list. A lot of fun if it's not too wet...

Columbia Riverkeepers L&C Voyages

If Carl Davaz's recent presentation got you thinking about retracing Lewis and Clark's trail, you might be interested in these two multi-day voyages offered by the Columbia Riverkeepers:

Paddle Columbia - The Lewis and Clark Voyage
June 19-23, 2004 ; $595

Lewis & Clark Voyage: Jefferson/Missouri Rivers
July 28-31, 2004 ; $560

Additional info, itineraries and sign-up forms are at riverdiscovery.org.

CCC Meeting - April 6th, 7:00pm *Winter Location!*

Agenda items:

• trip planning session
• open floor to any other issues

Location:

  South Eugene High School, Room 202
  400 East 19th Avenue
  Eugene, OR

Date/Time: April 6th, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Directions: See www.sehs.lane.edu

"Something Local, Something Easy" - April 3rd or 4th

Just like it says, something close by and lacking hazards :). Exact day will be determined as the date approaches. Those considering coming should phone or email; river suggestions are welcome.

Jeff Woodall ~ 342-8371

Coast Fork Willamette - Cottage Grove to Creswell - April 18th

This is #64 in Soggy Sneakers 3rd edition. It's 10.5 mile Class 1+ and requires moving water skills so as to avoid any overhanging brush. There is a low rock wall ledge mid-way that should be portaged.

Meet 9:30am at the LCC parking lot (NE lot nearest the stop sign). Call Mari B. 683-1248 with further questions and/or to confirm.

This trip has been cancelled

Among the Dunes: Paddling the Florence/Siuslaw Deflation Plain

On March 14th, 12 paddlers plus one dog met at the South Jetty just out of Florence and did about a 5-mile trip around the freshwater lake (pond?) that forms every winter in the deflation plain between the sand dunes. The weather was nice -- sunny and warm but a bit breezy later on. Pic 1 {headno64}* shows the gang heading out east behind a dike before portaging into the main lake. Pic 2 {upwndA64}* shows paddlers going upwind in the lake along the dunes. The lake depth is 6" to maybe 3 ft, so if you got really tired of paddling, getting out to wade was always an option. Critter counts included lots of geese and gulls plus mallard ducks, bufflehead ducks, and a bald eagle that was nice enough to come by during lunch.

Finally, we were really surprised when one of the group was able to snap a rare closeup picture (no. 3) {hrm_gs64}* of Florence's legendary "Hermit of the Dunes" with his imprinted pet goose!
--Clarence

* please see Florence-{pic} in the Pic-Bucket

Paddle with a bunch of Lunartics

(excerpted from a previously forwarded email)

The first full moon paddle of the season is Friday evening, April 2.
Be in your boat below the Nor'Wester at 7pm.  A full moon paddle is a
great way to end the week.

Chetco River:  Sunday, April 11.
Another paddle suitable for most paddlers.   A beatiful trip.  Last
year we paddled from South Bridge to the Port.  Meet in Harbor at the
Oceanside Diner for breakfast at 0815, or in the parking lot at 0900.
We'll car pool from the port.

Our May Full Moon Paddle will be held on the Klamath Canoe and Kayak
Trail.  This is an overnight trip that promises to be an awesome
experience.  Additional details to follow in about 2 weeks.

Please call if you have questions.  Hope to see you on the water.

Lunartic Jim
541-247-9779 

The Lunartics are in Gold Beach and on the web at http://www.ourwebmaster.com/lunartics/

Lower Columbia Canoe Club Offers May and June Clinics

The LCCC is offering a couple of canoe clinics that might be of interest to those looking to improve their skills. The following are being offered:

• May 15th/16th - Flat/Moving Water clinic
• June 5th/6th - White Water clinic

The cost is about $35. See http://www.l-ccc.org for more info.

Klamath River Trip Proposed for This Summer

(paraphrased from earlier email)

Lee and Ellen Paulus have proposed a trip on the Klamath River in Northern California next summer, camping at the Tree of Heaven C.G. The date is open to suggestions, esp. for those who think they'd like to go but absolutely cannot certain dates. Ellen is thinking earlier summer, such as June, or certain weekends in July for a longer 4-5 day stay. It would be ideal to have a site reserved early in January. Lee has a campsite in mind will accommodate a fairly large group, which is across the driveway from the river, adjacent to a deluxe two room pit toilet, water and hiking trail. Overflow parking is available for free in the day use lot, about 100yd walk next to boat ramp. The water is warm, Class I/II, with the option for running 10 miles of class II/III just below Happy Camp. Estimated drive time from Eugene/Springfield is 4 hours max, about 230 miles. This proposal will be further discussed at a future club meeting.

For more info contact Lee and Ellen at 741-9824.

WKCC Safety Weekend - May 1st & 2nd

(quoted from the WKCC website)

WKCC Safety Weekend 2004
Every year the club brings together professional instructors, experienced boaters, and mountain of gear to help educate interested boaters and non-boaters about basic river safety techniques. Rope skills, rescue techniques, first aid, and pin recovery are all things that are on the agenda for this popular event. All this and good cooking to boot! Contact Mark and read the article in this newsletter for information.

Contact:
Mark Taratoot (Corvallis)
(541) 754-7570
taratoot@peak.org

Wanna buy a Boat?

Mari suggested we poll members for their current favorite places - both local and online - for buying and selling boats and related equipment. Use the address at the bottom of the page to reply and we'll use the feedback to update our Links page.

March Meeting Minutes

• Only four (4) attended the trip planning session
• Made tentative plans for some coastal trips

Newsletter Contributions Wanted

Got something to add? Anything remotely canoeing related is welcome. Photos, stories, tips, whatever,
can be send it to the editor at    jeffwoodall "at" myrealbox "dot" com .